Radiator Not Heating

[maggiebee]

My bedroom radiator seems to be heating up on one side only. Any reason why this might happen and is it easily remedied? Thanks in advance.

[murraymints]

you need to bleed it..very simple to do but you need a radiator key

[Hopkirk]

If it needed bleeding it would be the top that stayed cold, not the side.

[murraymints]

wouldn't hurt to give it a go !

[sunny-dave]

Yes - bleed the thing - it's half full of air.

As it's an upstairs (I presume) radiator you need to make sure that the heating is actually pumping water around at the time you bleed the rad - make sure the boiler is on and turn the thermostat up to "tropical" just for the few minutes you need.

If you don't do this it's quite possible to bleed air *into* the sytem rather than out ...

[sunny-dave]

Not always Hoppy - water flows and trapped air are a law unto themselves ...

[Daffy6543]

I'm having the same problem with my lounge radiator, the bedroom one won't come on at all. Neither need bleeding as that was the first thing I tried and water came out of both immediately.

[Hopkirk]

Are you sure Dave?

Surely the pressure from the header tank will expel the air even if the pump isn't operating.

[maggiebee]

Thanks for the info folks. Methinks I need to call in a man/woman with a radiator key.

[2sp_]

You can get a key at a Poundshop or DIY store for next to nothing, save you a bill from a plumber. :-)

[sunny-dave]

I agree, that's the theory Hoppy - but not all systems have headers, and even mine (which does) has one tall bathroom rad which seems to need the pump pressure before it will bleed properly.

[tonyav]

maggie, this what they look like, you could get one from an hardware shop for a pound or two. Bleeding a radiator is an easy job.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R4.TR11.TRC1.A0.H1.Xradiator+&_nkw=radiator+key&_sacat=0

[Tilly2]

Bleeding difficult, innit?

[maggiebee]

Thanks Tony, might just give it a try so long as there are instructions with it.

[jno]

don't bleed while the radiator's hot, though.

[Hopkirk]

A bit of Googling suggests a possible sludge problem inside the radiator could be causing your problems.

[jno]

just turn it anti-clockwise until you hear air hissing out. If the noise turns to bubbly, turn it clockwise again

[murraymints]

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+bleed+a+radiator&;FORM=VIRE5#view=detail&mid=25286DE8C862C90C2B3325286DE8C862C90C2B33

[Tilly2]

just turn it anti-clockwise until you hear air hissing out. If the noise turns to bubbly, turn it clockwise again (jno)

....and if you have a hearing aid...turn it on!

[Hopkirk]

Here is a similar query from 2008.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question535121.html

Note "The Builder"'s answer

[Psybbo]

And check if the header tank needs topping up. OH did ours yesterday and found our missing saucepan that he forgot to bring down again last year.